Laura S Raine

Individual, couples and family counseling

Life Lessons

September 20, 2015  /  Laura Raine

Life is a winding road that sets out many types of challenges for us. How can we make it through the tougher times without our relationships and well-being falling apart?

Every one of us has our “issues”. Whether it is relationship problems, past traumatic experiences, difficult family dynamics, or career/money concerns, our mood and emotional well being is affected by these dilemmas.  How can we make it through these more difficult phases with our relationships, dreams, and emotional stability intact? There are a few things I believe are important to remember when you feel you have been blindsided by a problem or bad luck:

  1. You have made it through difficult times before- I know when we are feeling “stuck”, we can’t see how we have managed to pull ourselves out in the past, but look to your experiences as a way to grow and learn for future plights.  This is not the first, nor will it be the last time you are struggling. You have gotten through it before. Know that you will come out this time as well.
  2. Keep your thoughts and feelings in control by expressing them- Whether this be journaling, talking to friends and family, or seeking professional assistance from a counselor, don’t feel you have to do this all on your own.  By unleashing your feelings and thoughts from inside, you can take their intensity down a few notches and sort them so they do not feel as overwhelming.
  3. Don’t dwell on mistakes you have made that have put you here- Learn from your past mistakes and move forward!  Negative self-talk and dwelling on your faults will keep you in the “stuck” place.  Make realistic goals for yourself and knock them out one by one.
  4. You are worthy of being in a happier state- No one is perfect, and not one of us has lived without making (huge!) mistakes.  You are an individual, and you are on your own journey through life. What has happened to you, and what you have done in the past can be healed and learned from.  You have something to offer that no one else is this world does, and dwelling on the negative will not help you figure that out any faster.